The imposition of night curfew is officially reported today July 13 banning night public transport in West Arsi, one of the hotbeds of the popular uprisings in the country in 2016, according to Fana Broadcast.

The night curfew also affects the environs of Shahemene and Hawassa, which in the latter’s case was imposed already for a few days now. Police acknowledge the chorus of public complaints about the inconveniences this has caused, according to the ruling party’s news outlet.

Police commander Reta Belachew of West Arsi, whom Fana had contacted denied the ban in public transport and the night curfew had anything to do with security problems. He attributed the police action to the need to reduce road accidents.

The police information rather sounded awkward, implying that road accidents occur only during the night, while Ethiopian roads during the day time as well have proved death traps. What makes the police explanation ridiculous is why they select those hotspots of opposition to the regime especially by Oromia youth. That has made the police cover up clumsy and implausible.

The police commander also pointed out to Fana that this latest night curfew and police activities would continue for a while in a strengthened fashion.

On his part the Oromia Region’s Police Commission commander Alemu Megra, who is in charge of such police oversight, gave it a different twist, when he said this latest intensified police action is intended to control those transiting long distances, not those travelling to adjoining towns, according to Fana.

Whatever the police explanations, the TPLF regime seems concerned by the rising tension throughout the country. In the last few days, ESAT sources had reported sizeable number of troops being ferried to Amhara Region, in particular Gondar, Gojjam and Bahir Dar, the latter wining notoriety for anti-government protests and military actions, which has witnessed intermittent explosions.*Updated.

Share this: document.write('');

Like this:

A TRUE POLITICIAN’S PRICELESS QUALITIES

PASSION & A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY & PROPORTION.

Max Weber

PRESCIENT WARNING

"The government [Ethiopian] rules in a kind of commando fashion rather than building up strong governance institutions. This leads to a personalization of politics which raises important questions about the long-term sustainability of the current order. Ministers get involved in micro-managing policy – a practice that cannot be continued if the country does move to a higher level of development.

There will be increasing pressures to open the system up, but the ruling party is very reluctant to do so. It recognizes the need for capacity-building as such, but has yet to fully fathom that it will also have to increasingly cede some decision-making to civil society and autonomous actors in it. Western donors seem intent on pointing out that doing so can be of great benefit to Ethiopia as a whole and will help galvanize rather than impede its development."

ARCHIVES

Follow TEO on Twitter

QUOTATION FOR THE AGES

"When they [government officials] first came they told us an investor was coming and we would develop the land alongside one another. They didn't say the land would be taken away from us entirely. I don't understand why the government took the land."

Farmer Gemechu Garbaba

His wife adds:

"Since the land was taken away from us we are impoverished. Nothing has gone right for us, since these investors came."